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Case Notes

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
October 26, 2009

Summary Judgment

An oil rig worker can sue for injuries sustained while living on the offshore oil platform. Hughes v. Pogo Producing Co., Civ.A. No. 06-1894 (W.D. La., Feb. 12, 2009)

Plaintiff worker sued defendants, the owner of a fixed offshore oil platform rig, an oil and gas company (OGC), and others, for injuries sustained when he fell from a ladder while climbing out of a bunk bed in the living quarters of the platform. The OGC, the successor of the alleged designer of the platform and living quarters, moved for summary judgment. Issues of fact existed as to whether there was design and construction control over the beds and living quarters such that the OGC could be deemed a “manufacturer” under state law. That issue also precluded finding that the OGC had owed no duty to the worker to provide handrails or a guardrail. However, since the OGC did not own the platform when the worker was injured, it was not liable under state law. Questions also existed about whether the bunk beds were corporeal movables prior to their incorporation into the platform, as statutorily defined. The defective design claim survived, and the motion was denied as to the issues of whether the OGC was a “manufacturer,” whether a duty was owed to the worker, whether the law applied to the beds and/or living quarters, and whether the beds and/or living quarters were unreasonably dangerous. The motion was granted as to the premises liability claim and that claim was dismissed with prejudice.

Summary Judgment

An oil rig worker can sue for injuries sustained while living on the offshore oil platform. Hughes v. Pogo Producing Co., Civ.A. No. 06-1894 (W.D. La., Feb. 12, 2009)

Plaintiff worker sued defendants, the owner of a fixed offshore oil platform rig, an oil and gas company (OGC), and others, for injuries sustained when he fell from a ladder while climbing out of a bunk bed in the living quarters of the platform. The OGC, the successor of the alleged designer of the platform and living quarters, moved for summary judgment. Issues of fact existed as to whether there was design and construction control over the beds and living quarters such that the OGC could be deemed a “manufacturer” under state law. That issue also precluded finding that the OGC had owed no duty to the worker to provide handrails or a guardrail. However, since the OGC did not own the platform when the worker was injured, it was not liable under state law. Questions also existed about whether the bunk beds were corporeal movables prior to their incorporation into the platform, as statutorily defined. The defective design claim survived, and the motion was denied as to the issues of whether the OGC was a “manufacturer,” whether a duty was owed to the worker, whether the law applied to the beds and/or living quarters, and whether the beds and/or living quarters were unreasonably dangerous. The motion was granted as to the premises liability claim and that claim was dismissed with prejudice.

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